Werner Friedrich Gustav Krause

August 29, 1932 ~ November 25, 2018

Werner Friedrich Gustav Krause passed peacefully at the age of 86, on Sunday Nov. 25 at Whitehorse General Hospital in the comfort of family.

Werner was born August 29, 1932 in Jacobshagen, Germany, to Minna and Gustav Krause. At the age of 9, he and his family fled Germany to Denmark where the family was placed in an internment camp for two years. He and his family survived and returned to Germany. At the age of 17 Werner traveled to Canada and to Australia. Within a few years, he made the Yukon his home.

Werner and his brother, Hans, were drawn to the Yukon’s wilderness in the early 1950’s, to film and photograph wildlife. Their adventures were featured in Mclean’s Magazine and on CBC. He would take great risks, living off the land, narrowly escaping bear or moose charges, and spend hours and days in all conditions to get the one right shot. Werner taught his children to appreciate Yukon’s beauty on frequent camping trips to his favourite places, Sheep Mountain and McNiel River.

Wern loved climbing mountains, hiking, and hunting. His spirituality was defined by his connection to Nature.

Werner’s photography includes The Last Run of the Keno in 1960 and iconic shots of grizzly bears and mountain sheep. He might be remembered selling his photography at the annual Spruce Bog in earlier years and store to store. His other career was as a carpenter. He has contributed to several buildings in Whitehorse over the years, and built his family home in Whitehorse and family log-cabin in Atlin.

He is survived by his beloved children, Michael (Jane), Wanda, Jacob and Daniel and grandchildren, Adam, Matthew, Sarah, Brendan, and Jovan. Wern is preceded in death by his mother and father, Minna and Gustav; and siblings Hans and Elisabeth.